bottled up.

Friday night went something like this: Eli rubbed down a chicken with rosemary and thyme, stuck a lemon between its knees, and roasted it up with some baby red potatoes, carrots, and onions. I got some roasting in myself thanks to the heads of broccoli and cauliflower rolling around in our fridge. When the rice had soaked up the last drops of water in the pot, dinner was served.

We opened a not-very-good bottle of wine, knowing full well that it was not very good. When it's just family, you can do that sort of thing.

Eli did the dishes while Kase and I sprawled out on the green sofas and got to work on those gummy bears. - See more at: http://www.sweetamandine.com/2009_03_01_archive.html#sthash.4hhIGZBj.dpuf

It's one thing to like to cook, it's another thing to actually do it. Add that to a swoony bunch of tulips and a batch of freshly baked lemon bars and you have the makings for a perfect evening.


Thursday night went something like this...I marinated some salmon in a butter-brown sugar-lime ponzu glaze, squeezed a lemon on it and roasted it up with some baby red potatoes. After I whizzed up some avocado cream sauce to plop on top, dinner was served.

When the dishes were done, I sprawled out on the green chaise with a lemon square and a cup of tea.

The night wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but it filled me up just the right way. Who knew that a Thursday night, a bunch of tulips, some roasted up salmon, all done up dishes and amazingly good lemon squares could add up to such perfection. I wish I could bottle it up, the memory of that sweet mellow evening. So, this little blog of mine is the closest thing I have to a bottle. It sure is neat to have a place to store precious bits that might otherwise float away.

just sayin'.

lemon squares
(an Ina Garten recipe)

For the crust:
2 sticks butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon salt

For the filling:
6 extra-large eggs
3 cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup flour
Powdered Sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Line a 9x13 pan with foil or parchment, and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Cream together the butter and sugar. Mix in the flour and salt until dough forms.
Press the dough into the pan, building up 1/2 inch crust on all sides.
Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Chill.
Whisk together all of the remaining ingredients (except the powdered sugar), and pour into the cooled crust. Bake for 30-35 minutes until filling is set. Let cool to room temperature or chill overnight.
Dust with powdered sugar before cutting and serving.

The night wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but it filled me up in just the right way. Who knew that family and daffodils and a roasted bird and all-done dishes and remarkably soft and chewy gummy bears could add up to such perfection? I'd like to bottle it up, that sweet and mellow evening. And, well, this little blog of mine is the closest thing I have to a bottle. - See more at: http://www.sweetamandine.com/2009_03_01_archive.html#sthash.OO6TH7uD.dpuf

 pened a not-very-good bottle of wine, knowing full well that it was not very good. When it's just family, you can do that sort of thing. - See more at: http://www.sweetamandine.com/2009_03_01_archive.html#sthash.OO6TH7uD.dpuf

stuck a lemon between its knees, and roasted it up with some baby red potatoes, carrots, and onions. I got some roasting in myself thanks to the heads of broccoli and cauliflower rolling around in our fridge. When the rice had soaked up the last drops of water in the pot, dinner was served.

We opened a not-very-good bottle of wine, knowing full well that it was not very good. When it's just family, you can do that sort of thing. - See more at: http://www.sweetamandine.com/2009_03_01_archive.html#sthash.OO6TH7uD.dpuf

It's one thing to have a husband who can cook. It's another thing entirely to have one who does. Add to that a sister who shows up at your door with a swooning bunch of daffodils, a mother-in-law who ships remarkably soft and chewy gummy bears by the bagful, and you have the makings for a perfect evening. - See more at: http://www.sweetamandine.com/2009_03_01_archive.html#sthash.4hhIGZBj.dpuf

It's one thing to have a husband who can cook. It's another thing entirely to have one who does. Add to that a sister who shows up at your door with a swooning bunch of daffodils, a mother-in-law who ships remarkably soft and chewy gummy bears by the bagful, and you have the makings for a perfect evening. - See more at: http://www.sweetamandine.com/2009_03_01_archive.html#sthash.4hhIGZBj.dpuf